N.J. doctor pleads guilty to accepting kickbacks for referrals

By PETER J. SAMPSON

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

A doctor with a family practice in Newark on Wednesday became the fourth medical professional since April to plead guilty to federal charges of accepting illegal cash payments for referring patients to a diagnostic facility for scans and tests.

William Lagrada, 52, of Edison pleaded guilty to a single count of violating the federal health care program anti-kickback statute during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark.

Lagrada faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Cecchi set sentencing for Oct. 17.

Lagrada was one of 13 doctors arrested in December on charges of accepting cash kickbacks from Orange Community MRI in Orange in exchange for referring Medicare and Medicaid patients for testing.

Also snared in the investigation was Jose Castaneda, 37, a nurse practitioner from Clifton, who was the first of the defendants to plead guilty in April. Castaneda had been scheduled to be sentenced by Cecchi on Wednesday but the hearing was moved to Nov. 14.

In May, Dr. Dov Rand, 46, of Franklin Lakes became the second defendant to acknowledge accepting kickbacks. Rand, who has a physical medicine and rehabilitation practice in West Orange, agreed to forfeit $8,325 in proceeds from his criminal conduct. His sentencing is set for Sept. 13.

Lagrada told the judge he accepted kickbacks of $5,820 in October and $5,420 in November from a representative of Orange Community in return for referring patients for MRIs, CAT scans, echocardiograms, ultrasounds and other tests. He agreed to forfeit $69,880, representing the sum investigators believe he unlawfully pocketed in 2010 and 2011.

The arrests capped a two-month sting operation during which 32 illegal payments — ranging from $200 to $5,820 per month per defendant for a total of $51,500 — were made or received by cooperating witnesses, authorities said.

Castaneda previously admitted receiving envelopes with $3,500 in October and $4,620 in November for referrals during the previous month, and agreed to forfeit $57,695 to the government.

N.J. doctor pleads guilty to accepting kickbacks for referrals

By PETER J. SAMPSON

STAFF WRITER |

The Record

A doctor with a family practice in Newark on Wednesday became the fourth medical professional since April to plead guilty to federal charges of accepting illegal cash payments for referring patients to a diagnostic facility for scans and tests.

William Lagrada, 52, of Edison pleaded guilty to a single count of violating the federal health care program anti-kickback statute during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark.

Lagrada faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Cecchi set sentencing for Oct. 17.

Lagrada was one of 13 doctors arrested in December on charges of accepting cash kickbacks from Orange Community MRI in Orange in exchange for referring Medicare and Medicaid patients for testing.

Also snared in the investigation was Jose Castaneda, 37, a nurse practitioner from Clifton, who was the first of the defendants to plead guilty in April. Castaneda had been scheduled to be sentenced by Cecchi on Wednesday but the hearing was moved to Nov. 14.

In May, Dr. Dov Rand, 46, of Franklin Lakes became the second defendant to acknowledge accepting kickbacks. Rand, who has a physical medicine and rehabilitation practice in West Orange, agreed to forfeit $8,325 in proceeds from his criminal conduct. His sentencing is set for Sept. 13.

Lagrada told the judge he accepted kickbacks of $5,820 in October and $5,420 in November from a representative of Orange Community in return for referring patients for MRIs, CAT scans, echocardiograms, ultrasounds and other tests. He agreed to forfeit $69,880, representing the sum investigators believe he unlawfully pocketed in 2010 and 2011.

The arrests capped a two-month sting operation during which 32 illegal payments — ranging from $200 to $5,820 per month per defendant for a total of $51,500 — were made or received by cooperating witnesses, authorities said.

Castaneda previously admitted receiving envelopes with $3,500 in October and $4,620 in November for referrals during the previous month, and agreed to forfeit $57,695 to the government.